25 hospitalized after chemical irritant sprayed inside Jersey City school

Two dozen students and a security guard at School 11 in Jersey City were hospitalized yesterday morning after a chemical irritant was sprayed inside the school, school and hospital officials said.

Ten of the people were taken to Jersey City Medical Center and 15 were transported to CarePoint Health Christ Hospital, also in Jersey City, after they were initially treated at the scene for respiratory and eye problems, JCMC spokesman Mark Rabson said.

By noon, the patients at JCMC were cleared to be released.

A source with knowledge of the incident said that a "non-lethal spray" was released in a classroom but that the person who sprayed the chemical has not been identified or apprehended.

The person fled the scene after spraying the chemical, the source said.

Twelve to 16 students and two teachers were in the classroom at the time the chemical was sprayed and the school was then evacuated.

Teachers and students were allowed to re-enter the school at 10:45 a.m. after the Jersey City Hazmat unit determined the school was safe, Jersey City schools spokesman Maryann Dickar said in a statement.

Investigators are testing the residue left in the classroom to determine what kind of chemical was sprayed, an official said.